What do you say? Lansdowne 2.0

What do you say?
Lansdowne 2.0
Lansdowne Park is a publicly owned, iconic Ottawa site, located in the Glebe, with a long and storied history, encompassing the marshalling of troops in the Second World War, speed-car racing, agricultural fairs, music concerts including a visit by Elvis, and many years of the Ex. It includes heritage buildings, the Aberdeen Pavilion and the Horticulture Building. It has been called Ottawa’s jewel on the Rideau Canal.
However, in the late 1990s and early 2000s, it deteriorated into a shabby collection of buildings surrounded by a broken-asphalt parking lot. Redevelopment of Lansdowne was needed. After the cancellation of an international design competition, redevelopment was given sole-source to the Ottawa Sport and Entertainment Group (OSEG), who had promised the return of a CFL football team (the RedBlacks) to Ottawa. The result was Lansdowne Live, a complex of restaurants, retail, condos and a revamped sports arena, followed five years later by current planning for Lansdowne 2.0.
Lansdowne has been hailed by some as a success – an improvement over what it had been, and a lively people place. Jim Watson, former mayor of Ottawa, has praised it as a one of his legacy accomplishments.
On the other hand, a number of criticisms have been voiced. The Achilles heel of Lansdowne is considered by many to be transportation. The difficulty of getting to the park remains a major deterrent, and there are no plans for LRT access to Lansdowne.
The details of the plan also have critics. Lansdowne 2.0 calls for a smaller 5,500-seat arena, too small to accommodate, for example, the Professional Women’s Hockey League crowds or big-name concerts. There will be no roof for football fans, and no green roof on the arena, whose relocation will result in the loss of public park and green space. The toboggan hill berm will disappear.
The City’s Auditor General has said that the cost of Lansdowne 2.0 could be $75 million higher than estimates, bringing the total bill for the 2.0 redevelopment to close to half a billion dollars. She said cash distributions to the city are likely to be $10-$30 million less than estimated.
The recent progress on plans for a Senators arena and large entertainment complex at LeBreton Flats has also changed the sports and entertainment landscape in Ottawa.
Do you think the plans for Lansdowne 2.0 are:
On the right track, are a good use of taxpayers’ money and will result in a thriving people’s place?
If so, what do you like most about the Lansdowne 2.0 plan?
- New arena
- Entertainment/restaurants
- More housing
- Stable OSEG finances
- Other
Or
Wrong-headed, financially reckless and biased in favour of private developers to the detriment of public green space and urban parks for people?
If so, what do you most dislike about the Lansdowne 2.0 plan?
- Taxpayers’ burden/financials
- Loss of green space
- More condo towers
- Traffic/parking
- Other
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